Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain. For some reason, with epilepsy there is excessive
electrical activity in nerve cells in the brain. Some of the known causes of
epilepsy include:
Brain damage, either at birth or from a
severe head injury
Alcohol or drug abuse
Abrupt withdrawal of alcohol or drugs in
heavy users
Brain infection
Brain tumor
More often than not, however, the cause is not known. Epilepsy affects people of all ages, male and female. It often begins in childhood or adolescence. The disorder tends to run in families but is not contagious.
Signs and Symptoms
The most common symptom is a seizure, of which there are many types. The
type depends on the part of the brain the seizure starts in, how fast it takes place, and
how wide an area of the brain it involves.
Types of seizures fall in 2 general groups: general and partial. Involvement is confined to small areas of the brain with a partial seizure. A general seizure affects the whole brain and can cause loss of consciousness and/or convulsions.
Types of General Seizures are:
Nonconvulsive.
These are also called absence or petit mal seizures. Symptoms include staring into space
and repeated blinking. The person is not aware of the seizure. Someone else may think he
or she is daydreaming or not paying attention. These types of seizures can occur once a
day or more than 100 times a day. They occur most often in children and can result in
learning problems.
Convulsive. These are also
called tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures. There can be many symptoms, including crying
out, falling down, losing consciousness, entire body stiffening, then uncontrollable jerks
and twitches. The person's muscles relax after the seizure. He or she may lose bowel and
bladder control and may be confused, sleepy, and have a headache.
Types of Partial Seizures are:
Simple ones,
in which symptoms include tingling feelings, twitching, seeing flashing lights,
hallucination of smell and/or taste
Complex ones, involving
episodes (e.g., sitting motionless or moving or behaving in strange or repetitive ways)
called automatisms. Examples include lip smacking, chewing, and fidgeting with the hands.
There is usually no loss of consciousness, but the person who has this type of seizure may
be confused and not remember details of it.
If a partial seizure spreads, it could lead to a general seizure.
Treatment and Care
A medical diagnosis is necessary and will include:
Information about the attacks.
This may need to be given by someone else, because the sufferer is often not aware of what
has happened.
A complete neurological exam that includes
a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain (EEG). Specialized imaging tests
(e.g., computerized tomography [CAT] scans and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans).
Blood tests may also be done.
Persons who have seizures that recur are usually given anticonvulsant drugs. These prevent or lessen the chance for future seizures. Epileptics can lead normal lives once the seizures are controlled by medicine or do not occur for several years. This depends on the type of seizure, however. Persons with general convulsive seizures may have restrictions on driving and high-risk activities (e.g., certain jobs, sports, or anything that involves heights, using dangerous machinery or being in a potentially hazardous situation). Surgery may be performed if medication is not effective and the seizures are confined to a specific single area of the brain. (See also Seizures.)
(See "Places to Get Information & Help" under Epilepsy.)
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 04/21/99